Duchy reveals plans for first bakery

09 June, 2006

Page 6

Organic food company Duchy Originals is to open its first bakery on 14 June

producing new ranges including organic Cornish pasties and sweet and savoury tarts and flans (British Baker, 28 Oct. pg 6).The Cornish bakery, which was originally scheduled to open in April, will sell mainly to Waitrose and Budgens, and has been discussing a deal to supply Sainsbury’s, said a Duchy Originals spokeswoman. The bakery’s initial range will include steak and cheese & onion pasties; bacon & cheese and cheese & onion flans; and chocolate, lemon and fruit tarts.The plan is to double production within two years, in part through the addition of pastry products.Duchy Originals declined to give details of initial production capacity. The initial workforce of 14 will include 11 people on the two production lines. The bakery will use some ingredients sourced locally, including meat for pasties from local butcher James Kitto. It will also use some ingredients, including preserves and bacon, sourced from the suppliers of other Duchy products, a spokeswoman said.
The Duchy Originals Foods Bakery in Launceston, Cornwall, is owned by the Prince of Wales’ estate, which up to now has subcontracted production of all its food and drink products to suppliers including La Fornaia and Walkers Shortbread.Duchy Originals was set up by Prince Charles in 1990 to sell oat biscuits to fund his charitable foundation.